If you notice the shape of your gumline beginning to recede, it could be time to call the dentist. The movement of this tissue results from an infection that risks becoming permanent without timely treatment. Other common symptoms include chronic bad breath, bleeding when you floss or brush, and sore tissues. Do not wait until your next checkup, as gum disease that reaches the jawbone must be treated for life. We can perform a cleaning and examination to clear plaque and tartar and determine if you require additional periodontal therapy. A scaling and root planing procedure can lift the gumline to clean bacteria in pockets between the teeth. As your body heals, the tissues reattach to smooth tooth roots, allowing your symptoms to subside. Gum disease is the primary cause of missing teeth among adults today, so please take this condition seriously if it takes hold of your smile.
At Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry, we teach our patients preventive strategies to fight gum disease and other oral threats. By perfecting your daily oral hygiene routine and attending regular checkups, you can minimize your chance of an infection. However, when gum disease takes hold, we help you manage the symptoms and enjoy a high-quality smile.
How Gum Infections Take Hold
Any sudden change in the appearance of your smile requires a discussion with your dentist. This is one of the reasons we suggest scheduling exams every six months. By taking images of your grin, we create a dental record that allows easy reference at future visits. When we see a sudden development, we will prescribe appropriate treatments to get your health under control.
If we diagnose you with gum disease, we will plan a periodontal maintenance session to return your healthy tissues. As you recover from your symptoms, we will counsel you on at-home behaviors to best maintain a clean grin. Paying attention to your brushing and flossing habits can prevent an outbreak in the future.
Fighting Tooth Loss
Did you know that gum disease is the leading cause of missing teeth today? By managing your infection, you can reduce the likelihood of losing the stability of your teeth. When patients do not take care of gum infections, we must extract teeth to get their disease under control. Keep this potential in mind if you see symptoms of an infection take hold of your smile.
Talk To Your Dentist About Maintaining Healthy Gums At Sunny Smiles In El Paso, TX
While gum disease can become permanent, regular care can protect your smile from additional tissue loss. To find out more about periodontal disease and how we help you fight it, give us a call at your local Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at (915)849-9000.